It’s no secret that college debt is a huge economic concern for millions of Americans. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average student actually borrows over $30,000 to pursue a four-year degree, and it can take nearly 20 years to pay off these debts.
In the meantime, young professionals may struggle to afford housing and basic necessities, let alone meet their loan repayment minimums each month.
So can you imagine how incredible it would feel if you randomly received a letter one day, stating that your major student loan was mysteriously paid off for you?
One young woman got to experience this dream scenario about two months ago. Her student loan balance was a whopping $68,000, and she was unexpectedly notified that the entire thing had been covered.
Initially, she was suspicious and thought it had to be a scam. Yet, once she got in contact with her loan servicer, they confirmed she was officially debt-free because a relative had issued a “full payment.”
“I immediately knew it was my dad. He’s always been supportive, though not the emotional type,” she recalled.
She quickly gave him a call and thanked him through tears. Meanwhile, her dad was pretty nonchalant about the whole thing. He shrugged off her appreciation, told her not to worry about it, and said she should just focus on living her life.
So, that’s exactly what she did for a while. But then, just last week, she finally found out how her dad managed to pay the bill, and it’s left her feeling torn.
While talking to her mom, it came out that her dad actually sold his beloved Harley: the bike he’d been working to restore since before she was even born. He’d always talked about the Harley being his “retirement ride.”
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Nonetheless, when it came down to keeping his bike or supporting her future, her dad picked the latter. He decided to quietly sell the Harley to a collector from another state, and every cent he received went toward her student loan balance.
“He’s 61, works maintenance at a plant, and his knees are shot. That bike was the one indulgence he ever allowed himself,” she shared.
And now that she knows the extent her dad went through to help her, she feels both super loved and guilty.
“He traded his dream for my freedom, and I don’t know how to carry that,” she vented.
She also isn’t sure whether she should thank her dad for his help again or apologize to him for putting her first.
Can you believe her dad was so selfless? Would you do the same for your child if you could? How can she share her immense gratitude with him?
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By Katharina Buczek
Katharina Buczek graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Digital Arts. Specializing in... More about Katharina Buczek
